Soul Food Read Free Page B

visions of Jason pounding in her head, Kelley herself felt like a child and ached for Ma’s big, strong hands to knead away her aches and troubles. Right now Ma would see right through her and besides, her mother was off, dusting pews and getting the sanctuary ready for services.
    “Yeah, of course. An old man.” Kelley blew out. No way could she escape church tomorrow.
    Without asking, Chelsea opened the duffel and began to unload clothes into the closet, drawers, and laundry hamper. “So business is that bad, huh?”
    “What do you mean?” Kelley shot upright among the pillows like somebody had just yelled “fire.” The words were absolutely true, but hearing them was like a sticking your hand into a flame even though you knew it would blister your skin.
    Chelsea kicked the empty bag under a bed, then tossed Kelley a wise glance from beneath her mop of long red curls. “You look like you’ve been tied to the back of a truck going sixty miles an hour.”
    “Gee, thanks.” Kelley’s heart sank so far her big toe began to throb. If what Chelsea said was true, Jason probably had been more than glad to dump his load at Hearts Crossing.
    Although when he’d wakened her at the back door, his face had been appealing as ever and kind of flirty to boot. She flushed just thinking about him, but shook her head, unsure what to say. Did she dare confide to Chelsea about the restaurant? None of the siblings were tattletales, but Ma had a way of worming secrets out of her kids. “It’s okay.” Chelsea grappled her close. “Just hang in. The restaurant biz is hard all over. The Colemans have cut my summer hours at Butterbean Café. And they’re starting to think about retiring and selling out.”
    “Oh, no. Chels.” Now this was bad news. Pa had left all his kids money for college, but these days, it was never enough.
    “No worries. I’ll make up for it next semester working in the dining hall.” Chelsea’s auburn eyes were bright as she turned to gaze out the window, and Kelley understood at once. The view of the ranch could definitely heal hearts. “I said a prayer the second Mrs. Coleman cut my hours, and the next day, I landed the gig at school. So, never give up, Kel.”
    Kelley nodded, but doubt roiled. They were good words to hear but hard to believe. True enough, she was sometimes ashamed at her lack of optimism and her shaky faith, but praying had become as impossible as a good night’s sleep.
    But what if Chelsea was right? What if Kelley choked out a petition right now? Would something wonderful happen? Not likely. Not with her current track record. Unwilling to get whiney, she jumped from the hot pink bedspread, lime green pillow tumbling to the floor. Prayer hadn’t been working, but one thing always did. A trail ride into the hills that hugged the Hearts Crossing ranch. Reenergized, Kelley pulled on her boots. Bryce watched her but stayed put, apparently ready for a snooze.
    “I’m gonna go saddle up Cheyenne. You wanna come along?”
    Chelsea grinned as her gaze moved from the window back to Kelley. “Nope. I may have had my hours cut, but I do still have a job. But…you won’t be lonely long.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Why, cowgirl, if you hurry, you just might meet up with one Mr. Jason Easterday. Looks like he’s about to take off on Bridge. Aw, c’mon. You know you want to. Get going.”
    Her cheeks heated. Of course she did. Jason. On a horse. Kelley’s heart pounded as she stuffed her feet into her boots, grabbed her Western-style straw hat, and dashed downstairs, through the big front door and straight to the corral.
    “Jason! Hold up!” she yelled before she lost her nerve. When he turned to her, peering down from atop the handsome black gelding, brim shading his eyes, electricity shot through each nerve ending in her skin. “You want some company?”
    Her words sounded shaky, and if he said no she’d head back upstairs and wallow, but a smile split his face and upped the